Reflector



ocf.16,1945. g, OWENS 2,387,038

l REFLEcToR Filed Sept. l5, 1943 Snventor -f James @wens menen oa. 1s, 1ers nmuc'ron Jamel n. omis, Camden, N. J., mumu me Corporation of America, a corporation of Dela- Anpucauoa september 1s, 1ers, semi Nb. seam iclaim. `(or. sii- 1015)v This invention involves a reflector of the type for reflecting light from a source to an object to be illuminated. In photography it is' often necessary that the-subject matter to loe photographed be uniformly illuminated. In some cases the subject is illuminated froman angle or nonuniforrnlyto produce a desired effect. Most reiiectors for the purpose of photographic illumination are deficient in that the light on the subject is notuniform but falls oif irregularly from the center of the illuminated spetto the margins. When two or moresuch illuminants are used to- Figure 6 snows a redeem' with ma formations v pressed on the surface thereof, and

gether, the irregularity of the illumination of the subject is more pronounced. If reflectors are not used the effect of illumination by incandescent light or arc lights follows the square lawbut loss of light is very great.

In the present invention a reilector of the spherical, parabolic or elliptical type is painted white and then covered with glass beads. Alternative constructions provide forv a metallic rev -iiector having small raised portions corresponding with the .surface of the glass beads, the glass beads coated with a-layer of reflective paint or a reflector of white material such as a white plastic or glass with its interior shaped in simulation of 4glass beads.

I have found that these typesl of reflectors greatly increase the uniformity of illumination on the subject and at the same time have a highv refleeting Power. l

One object ofthe invention is to provide a reilector which will give a uniformly illuminated .ileld from an incandescent light source.

- Another object of the invention is to provide a renection which will avoid too great a localized villumination or hot spots."

Another object of the invention is to provide a process by lwhich a reector for photographic illumination can be repaired when it has become in emcient and after the repair have greatly improved efficiency. l j

In the drawing Figure l -shows a hemispheric reflector of the beaded metal type with the socket type bulb attached to the middle of thereilector,

Figure 2 shows a. parabolic reflector with the interior surface beaded,

Flifure 3 shows' a concave reflector with the lamp socket supported by a bracket infront of the reflector.

Figure 4 shows a type'of reflector with glass beadsvonvthe'surfac thereof," y v Figure 5 shows a type-of reflector with glass beads embedded into the surface thereof and with x a reflecting coating thereover, f

-cornes plastic.l

Figure 'l shows a reflector formed from a sheet of material provided with raised protuberances resembling beads.

Referring first to Fig. 4, the base of the reflector l0 may be ofmetal,` nbre, plastic or any convement other material. If the reflector is to be used with high intensity lights such, for example. as photoiiood lights, the base is preferably of metal. This base' is coated' with a layenof'white paint Il, and whilethe paint is' still tacky, glass beads I2 are pressed into the surface of the paint. These' beads are preferably from-* to kthV of an inch indiameter and are n of approximatelyl uniform sise. serve as individual renectors.

v 'Ihe process for converting conventional tors to glass beaded reflectors for producing new 1 glass beaded reflectors is preferably as follows:

1. Prepare surface by caustic dip or vother.

means to provide a bond for enamel.

2. Sprayon a uniform coat of white-pigmented v" baking enamel. v

3. Heat reflector to point where enamel be 4. Apply large amount of glass beadafand shake on excess.

5. Spray on a protective coating of clear lacquer.

6..'Bake until all solvents areevaporated and f `enamel has set;

The glass-beads' 'do not tarnish or `fado and they also serve toprotect Athe paint layer from discoloration.

Another form. of reflector is shown .in 6

where the beads are covered with a layer of white paint. The lreflecting characteristics of this sur- ;face are very similar to that of the form shown in Fig. 4 but thelupper layer of paint is not protected. from the elements by thebeads. In this iormoithel Vinvention the support it carries the layer of paint;- I I l-havingthe beads il attached to the paint ina tacky conditionne-in F18. 4 but a.

layer of paint Il is applied after the beads are firmly secured tothe support. 'I'his arrangement has the advantage that dirt does not get in bev tween the beads and affect thereiiectingchar acteristics. but it has the corresponding disad-l vantage that lthe paint is affected by the elev ments.

Fig:Bshowsa'typerofreector made 'out of an appropriate plastic which is preferably white in color. 'I'his reector may be pressed in. ari ap propriete mold having a convexV portion with;`

small concave depressions over the surface so that when the article is nnished there are a large number of small bead shaped surfaces on the interior -of the reflector. This type of reiiectort may be made from white glass, porcelain either glazed `or unglazed, or the more recent thermosetting plastics. having included therein a white opacier.

vered, nickeled or chromium plated, or amold-- able plastic. The function of the raised convex surfaces I6 remains the same as the beads I2 or the raised convex surfaces I 3 or I9. It will be apparent that in each form of the invention described, the-'retlector isbroken up into a large y number of individual reflectors which each operate-as substantially point sources of light, giving al very uniform illumination. Y

When the ordinary metallic reflectors have become useless due to corrosion or wearing on of the reflecting nlm with. which they are covered,

they can be rendered usable by painting and beading their interior surface as above described l and these lreiiectcrs will then attain a degree of reection approximating .that oi' new reilectors v in addition tothe uniformity sfof distribution of f the light above described.

It will be apparent that my reflector is not limited tothe hemispherical type or a parabolic or hyperbolic surface of revolution, but it matr be semi-cylindrical or ina trough shape with a. parabolic or hyperbolic or elliptical cross section.

These latter types of reiieotors are particularly adapted to long narrow lighting units.

My improved reector is adapted not only to reiiecting light onto Objects t0 be illuminated, but it is equally well adapted to reflecting light in a photographic enlarger or for similar purposes.

I claimas my invention:v

' A. reiiector comprising a concave body having `a.

layer of light reilecting material on its entire inner concave's'urface, a single layer comprising minute spherical glass-'beads of uniform size embedded in said reiiecting layer and covering'sub` stantially said entire concave surface, and a A 25 transparent protective coatingrover said beads.

JAMES H. OWENS.` ff 

